DOG DAYCARE - WHAT IS IT?
The guiding principle behind dog day care is simple –
provide a safe and healthy atmosphere with lots of
interaction, both with other dogs and with people. Dogs can
participate in group play, gnaw on a favorite toy, hang out
with humans in the office, or just lounge on a couch and
watch television. The most important needs that daycare
fulfills are socialization, stimulation, and exercise.
The guiding principle behind dog day care is simple –
provide a safe and healthy atmosphere with lots of
interaction, both with other dogs and with people. Dogs can
participate in group play, gnaw on a favorite toy, hang out
with humans in the office, or just lounge on a couch and
watch television. The most important needs that daycare
fulfills are socialization, stimulation, and exercise.
THE BENEFITS OF DOG DAYCARE
SOCIALIZATION: Dogs are “pack animals” by nature; they
need interaction with other dogs. Daycare fulfills the need
to be around, and play with other canines. There are
valuable lessons that they teach each other that they
cannot learn from humans. One is "Canine Hierarchy".
Dogs have a Patriarchal system. Older dogs are revered
and respected by younger ones. But just as in our society,
this is not instinctive - it is taught. But how is a young
dog to learn such an important facet of dog life if he is not
around other dogs? The process of this teaching requires
that the pup understand “doggie language”. Dogs grunt,
snarl, snap, stiffen, raise their cockles, and use other body-
language signs to communicate to one another.
STIMULATION: This can lead to boredom, separation
anxiety, and developing bad habits, like chewing prized-
possessions, barking, and indoor accidents. Quite a few
dogs benefit from day care two or three times per week.
They find that this new routine adds stimulation to an
otherwise bored dog, and if the dog is not home, he can't
very well chew the furniture or bark at the mailman.
EXERCISE: Many breeds that were originally bred for
working now find themselves living in our neighborhoods.
Now instead of herding sheep, they sleep, eat, look out a
window, eat, look out the back window, and to break-up
the monotony: eat. The result is overweight dogs; For most
breeds, too much weight can prove to be harmful to their
hearts and joints. Attending a daycare that emphasizes
exercise and daily walks is vital to longevity.
SOCIALIZATION: Dogs are “pack animals” by nature; they
need interaction with other dogs. Daycare fulfills the need
to be around, and play with other canines. There are
valuable lessons that they teach each other that they
cannot learn from humans. One is "Canine Hierarchy".
Dogs have a Patriarchal system. Older dogs are revered
and respected by younger ones. But just as in our society,
this is not instinctive - it is taught. But how is a young
dog to learn such an important facet of dog life if he is not
around other dogs? The process of this teaching requires
that the pup understand “doggie language”. Dogs grunt,
snarl, snap, stiffen, raise their cockles, and use other body-
language signs to communicate to one another.
STIMULATION: This can lead to boredom, separation
anxiety, and developing bad habits, like chewing prized-
possessions, barking, and indoor accidents. Quite a few
dogs benefit from day care two or three times per week.
They find that this new routine adds stimulation to an
otherwise bored dog, and if the dog is not home, he can't
very well chew the furniture or bark at the mailman.
EXERCISE: Many breeds that were originally bred for
working now find themselves living in our neighborhoods.
Now instead of herding sheep, they sleep, eat, look out a
window, eat, look out the back window, and to break-up
the monotony: eat. The result is overweight dogs; For most
breeds, too much weight can prove to be harmful to their
hearts and joints. Attending a daycare that emphasizes
exercise and daily walks is vital to longevity.
| Doggie Daycare of River Oaks |
